MODIFIER

Modifier:  a person or thing that makes partial or minor changes to something.

A word, especially an adjective or noun used attributively, that restricts or adds to the sense of a head noun (e.g. good and family in a good family house ).

In short, a modifier is a describer. A modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that describes another word, phrase, or clause.

Example of Grammatical Modifier:

• He is a cute baby.

In this sentence, “cute” is an adjective modifying the noun, “baby.” The adjective “cute” is a modifier. “Cute” modifies the type of baby.

There are two types of Modifier.

(i) Pre-modifier

(ii) Post-modifier

 

Pre-Modifier: a word, especially an adjective or a noun, that is placed before a noun and describes it or restricts its meaning in some way.

 

1. Adjective as Pre-modifier:

(i) A wise man can not commit such a great blunder.

(ii) Our country needs many honest workers.

(iii) The most young beautiful lady drew the attention of the audience.

Ex:       1. Everybody respects an —————- man.

2. He is a ——— man.
3. Bangladesh is an ———– country.
4. Participle as Pre- modifier:

(a). Present Participle: Verb (Present) + ing

(i) A sleeping dog seldom seldom bites.

(ii) A drowning man catches at a straw.

(iii) Don’t get down from a running train.

Ex:       1. We rushed to the ————– house.

2. All the hopes of the ———— boy were nipped in the bud.
3. ————- clouds create a poetic image on my mind.

(b) Past Participle:

(i) He bought a rotten fish.

(ii) I wear a torn shirt.

(iii) He gave me a broken glass.

Ex:       1. Everybody respects a ———– man.

2. They lived in an ———— house.
3. We should not drink ———— water.
4. Noun as Pre-modifier:

(i) We enjoyed a football match yesterday.

(ii) Let us go out by the sea beach.

(iii) A train journey is pleasant.

Ex:       1. I was watching a ———— show.

2. I have a cherished desire to make a visit at a ———— port.
3. ————– water is pure and safe to drink.

 

4. Noun adjective as Pre-modifier:

(i) He bought a small tea pot.

(ii) Della presented Jim a nice fob chain.

(iii) We took rest under a shadowy banyan tree.

Ex:      1. David Copperfield is my ————- English novel.

2. Gabtali is ————- bus station.
3. Sundarban is a ————- mangrove forest.

 

2. Determiners & Demonstrative (this, that, these, those) as Pre-modifiers:

(i) He bought a pen.

(ii) The Padma is a big river.

(iii) I bought this book yesterday.

Ex:       1. The boy eats ———— egg everyday.

2. ———- Sun gives us light.
3. ———— boys are playing in the field.
4. Quantifiers are Pre-modifier: (One. Two, three, much, many, some, several, a lot, a little)

(i) The man has much money.

(ii) Give me a little rice.

(iii) He bought five books from the book fair.

Ex:       1. He has ————– wealth but doesn’t help anybody.

2. I have a ———- time to stay here.
3. Mr. Noman has ———- brand new cars to use.
4. Possesive as Pre-modifier: (My, our, your, their, her, his)

(i) His brother has gone to Japan.

(ii) Our country is very fertile.

(iii) Mr. Rahim’s shirt is new.

Ex:       1.We should love ———— country and countryman.

2. The man was always ignorant of ———– sister’s fault.
3. Hasan wants to buy a pens as like as ———.
4. Compounds as Pre-modifier:

(i) A hard working student can shine in life.

(ii) He bought a brand new car.

(iii) We got into a first-class compartment.

Ex:       1. He gave me a ———— idea.

2. The man came here wearing an —————– shirt.
3. He is an ———— person in the field of art and literature.
4. Adverb as Pre-modifier:

(i) The then headmaster was a learned man.

(ii) The down train will leave now.

(iii) The above passage is difficult.

Ex:       1. Read the ———— text and answer the questions.

2. The ——– work will be done by them.
3. Read the ———- story and find out the moral.
4. Intensifier as Pre-modifier. (very, great, )

(i) The horse can run very fast.

(ii) The man was very sincere in his work.

(iii) We spend a great time at our hometown.

Ex:       1. The boy was ——— polite in his attitude.

2. Rabindranath Tagore has a ————– contribution in Bengali literature.

 

Post Modifier: a word, especially an adjective or a noun, that is placed after a noun and describes it or restricts its meaning in some way.

 

1.Infinitive Phrase as Post-Modifier: (to + Verb (Present) )

(i) His  plan to start the business ended in smoke.

(ii) He made an attempt to escape punishment.

(iii) I took a determination to pass the examination.

Ex:       1. Her decision ———— medicine was appreciated.

2. His scheme ————- a hospital did not come true.
3. He made up his mind ———– the poor people.
4. Present Participle Phrase as Post Modifier:

(i) I saw the porter lying on the floor.

(ii) He found the girl reading a book.

(iii) The watched the train leaving the station.

Ex:       1. I saw the birds ———— in the sky.

2. The man found the boy ———- in the field with other boys.
3. I cross the launch ——— in the river with a heavy speed.
4. Past participle as Post Modifier:

(i) The book published in 1993 has been revised.

(ii) The building constructed fifty years ago collapsed last weak.

(iii) The letter signed by the Principal was posted.

Ex:       1. The letter ———— in 1^st January 2018 receive today.

2. The building ———– long ago gets approval to change.
3. The machine ———- in local factory are working well.
4. Prepositional Phrase as Post Modifier:

(i) The boy in torn cloth is very poor.

(ii) The fish on the pan is very fresh.

(iii) The man on board the ship was clever.

Ex:      1. The story ————– is very interesting.

2. The Hilsha fishes ————- river are very testy.
3. The people live ————- lead a very simple life.
4. Appositive as Post Modifier:

(i) Mr, Ahmed, Principal of our college, is a good administrator.

(ii) We invited Mr. Islam, a great physician of Bangladesh.

(iii) Humayun Ahmed, a famous novelist, has consented to attend our function.

Ex:       1. Babor, ———— was a pious man.

2. Kazi Nazrul Islam, ————— was very meritorious from his childhood.
3. Akbar, —————– was well known for his justice.
4. Adjective as Post Modifier:

(i) I don’t find anything wrong in the paper.

(ii) There is something abnormal in his behavior.

(iii) All the members present in the meeting were against the proposal.

Ex:       1. Something —————- always attract my attention.

2. The team doesn’t find any ———– in his tasks.
3. We should always be careful regarding natural ————.
4. Relative clause as Post Modifier:

(i) The boy who lost his pen is poor.

(ii) I bought a pen which was black.

(iii) She took a cabin that was small.

Ex:       1. The man ————— is my younger brother.

2. There was king —————— was Lear.
3. I have lost the gift —————– .
4. Adverb as Post Modifier:

(i) The questions below are to be answered.

(ii) The man behind is my brother.

(iii) The beggar there is waiting for alms.

Ex:       1. The man ———- the bar was innocent.

2. The boys ———— are playing football.
3. Read the text carefully and answer the questioned ———–.

Which will work like an ADJECTIVE. But there are some specific words in this regard. You have to use a word/ words from the below list.
1. Articles: a, an, the.
2. Demonstrative: this, that, these, those.
3. Distributive: all, both, half, either, neither, each, every, etc.

4. Possessive: my, his, her, our, their, its, your.
   5. Quantifiers: a little, a few, much, many, a lot of, some, most, no, any, enough, etc.
5. Number: one, ten, twelve, thirty, hundred, etc.
   7. Difference Words: other, another.
6. Intensifier: very/ great
7. Possessive: his/ her/ my/ their/ our
8. Infinitive : to + verb (present) ; like : to go, to like, to sing

 

Modifier (Combined Rules)

So, ‍according to the definition, there are two types of modifiers:

1)   Pre-modifiers

2)   Post-modifiers

>> Pre-modifiers: Pre-modifiers sit before a noun/ verb/ adverb/ adjective to modify it.

Example: He is a school boy.
[as the boy of the sentence is a noun, it has been modified by school which has taken its position right before the noun (boy). So, School is a Pre-modifier here.]

>> Post-modifiers: Post-modifiers sit after a noun/ verb/ adverb/ adjective to modify it.

Example: Mr Mashrafi, the captain of Bangladesh cricket team, is a real patriotic.
[here, as Mr Mashrafi is a noun of the sentence, it has been modified by the captain of Bangladesh cricket team which has taken its position right after the noun (Mr Mashrafi). So, the captain of Bangladesh cricket team is a Post-modifier here.]

 

1. Pre-modify the Noun:Here should be  a word or group of words which  will work like an ADJECTIVE or NOUN-ADJECTIVE. Basically, we have a use an Adjective before a Noun.

⇒Example: We tried our best to complete the work but we didn’t have _____ time to do that.

➺ Ans (probable): enough/ much/ a lot of/ plenty of, etc.

➠Explanation: Look at the above answers. All the answers are Adjectives as only adjectives can modify the Noun.

2. Post-modify the Noun with an Appositive:Here should be  a word or group of words which  will work like a NOUN  and will give or indicate some extra information about the previousNOUN.

[Here it is- “An appositive is a noun or pronoun that renames or identifies another noun or pronoun      right beside it in some way. An appositive phrase consists of an appositive and its modifiers.”

⇒Example:  My friend Shammi, ________, was driving.

➺ Ans (probable): a famous singer/ a popular actress/ a good human being/ a famous athlete, etc.
➠Explanation: Look at the above answers. All the answers are Adverbs as only adverbs can modify the verbs.
3. Pre-modify the Noun using Demonstrative: Here should be a word which will work like a demonstrative pronoun/ demonstrative adjective. When a demonstrative sits before a Noun, it is called a demonstrative adjective. There are four demonstratives- This/ that/ these/ those.

⇒Example: To save _____ boy, he took a lot of risks.

➺ Ans (probable): that.

➠Explanation: Look at the above answer. The answer is specific here and it is only THAT which sits before the boy (a noun) to modify it.

4.  Pre-modify the Noun using a Noun Adjective:Here should be a word or words which will be noun but will work like an Adjective as its position is before a noun.

⇒Example: We walked a lot and so, we stood under a big ______ tree to take some rest.

➺ Ans (probable):  mango/ banyan/ jack-fruit, etc.

➠Explanation: Look at the above answers. All the answers are Nouns [name of trees]. As they sit before a noun [tree], they are called noun adjectives.
5.  Post-modify the Verb with Adverb/ Adverbial: Here should be  a word or group of words which will work like an ADVERB.

⇒Example: I experienced a very interesting incident _____ on my way to Tangail.

➺ Ans (probable): last week/ last night/ last month/ yesterday/ a few days ago, etc.
➠Explanation: Look at the above answers. All the answers are Adverbs as only adverbs can modify the verbs.

6. Post-modify the Verb with an infinitive:Here should be  a word or group of words which will work like an Infinitive.

Infinitives/ infinitive phrases are formed- “to+ base form of verb”.

⇒Example:  Mita became extremely happy _____ after a long time.

➺ Ans (probable):  to see me/ to meet him/ to come here, etc.

➠Explanation: Look at the above answers. All the answers are Infinitives as they have been formed using this formula to+ present form of verb.

7. 7.     Pre-modify the Verb using participle:Here should be  a word or group of words which will work like a NOUN+ADJECTIVE simultaneously and that word is called Present Participle. It forms taking “ing” with the base form of verb (ing+ present form of verbs).

⇒Example:  ______, Tamalika was shocked.
➺ Ans (probable):  Seeing the damage of her new car.

➠Explanation:   Look at the above answer. Here seeing is the participle of this answer as it has taken its position before Damage which is working here as a noun. So, before noun, anything is an Adjective and participle also works like an adjective.
8.     Post-modify the Adjective with an infinitive: Here should be  a word or group of words which will work like an Infinitive.

Infinitives/ infinitive phrases are formed- “to+ base form of verb”.

⇒Example:  Mita became extremely happy _____ after a long time.

➺ Ans (probable):  to see me/ to meet him/ to come here, etc.

➠Explanation: Look at the above answers. All the answers are Infinitives as they have been formed using this formula to+ present form of verb.

9. 9.     Pre-modify the Adjective using an intensifier:Here should be  a word or group of words which will work like an ADVERB or ADVERBIAL PHRASE.

Intensifiers are adverbs or adverbial phrases that strengthen the meaning of other expressions and show emphasis. Words that we commonly use as intensifiers include absolutely, completely, extremely, highly, quite, rather, really, so, too, totally, utterly, very and at all.

⇒Example:  Mita became ______ happy to see me after a long time.

➺ Ans (probable):  highly/ very/ quite/ extremely/ absolutely/ tremendous, etc.

➠Explanation: Look at the above answers. All the answers are Adverbs as only adverbs can modify the adjectives.

10. Pre-modify the Adjective using Demonstrative:Here should be  a word or group of words which will work like a Demonstrative pronoun & it will sit before an Adjective.

[See Rule no-3 for more about Demonstrative.]

⇒Example:  We can never forget ______ lovely sea birds.

➺ Ans (probable):  these.

➠Explanation: Look at the above answer. As Lovely sea birds (here LOVELY is an adjective) refer to the plural number and the sentence is in Present Tense, the answer should be These.
[For more about Demonstrative see Rule no-3.]
11. Post-modify the Adjective: Here should be  a word or group of words which will work like a Noun as we know noun takes its position after adjective.

⇒Example:  It is high ______ we left the place.

➺ Ans (probable):  time.

➠Explanation: Look at the above answer. As high of the given example is an adjective so there should be a NOUN ‍after it.

12. Pre-modify the Noun using Possessive:Here should be  a word or group of words which will work like an Adjective as we know Possessive takes its position before a Noun. In fact, when possessive pronouns sit before nouns, they are called Possessive adjectives. In short, anything sits before noun is generally called Adjective.
    Possessive adjectives are- my/ our/ your/ their/ his/ her/its, etc. When these words are used before Nouns, they are called Possessive Adjectives and when not, are called Possessive Pronouns.
    ⇒Example:  Without the knowledge of English with proper understanding, you can’t complete ______ higher studies as most of the books are written in English in the process of higher education.

➺ Ans (probable):  your.

➠Explanation: Look at the above answer. As higher studies of the given example is a Noun so, there               should be an Adjective before it.

13. Post-modify the Verb with Prepositional Phrase:Here should be  a word or group of words which will work like a Preposition. We should remember that Prepositional Phrase starts with a preposition and ends with a noun. In fact, a prepositional phrase must have an Object.
    ⇒Example:  Without having good command over English, you will suffer ______ of your life.

➺ Ans (probable):  in the long run.

➠Explanation: Look at the above answer. Here in the long run is a prepositional phrase as it has started with a preposition (in), it has an article (the) and it has ended with a noun (long run). So, it is a prepositional phrase.
14.  Pre-modify the Noun with a Determiner: Here should be  a word or group of words

which will work like an ADJECTIVE. But there are some specific words in this regard. You have to use a word/ words from the below list.
➤ Articles: a, an, the.
➤ Demonstrative: this, that, these, those.
➤ Distributive: all, both, half, either, neither, each, every, etc.
➤ Possessive: my, his, her, our, their, its, your.
➤ Quantifiers: a little, a few, much, many, a lot of, some, most, no, any, enough, etc.
➤ Number: one, ten, twelve, thirty, hundred, etc.
➤ Difference Words: other, another.
➤ Pre-determiners [Pre-determiners are normally placed before an indefinite article + adjective + noun to express an opinion about the noun they modify.]: such, what, rather, quite, etc.

➤ Intensifier : Very /Great

➤Infinitive : to + verb (present)

➤ appositive : article + adjective

➤ gerund : verb (p) + ing

⇒Example:  Actually, the fox wants to cut off our tails because he has _____ tail of his own.
➺ Ans (probable):  no.
➠Explanation: Look at the above answer. The answer is a Determiner as it is found in the above list of determiners. And it has taken its position before a noun to pre-modify Tail.

15. Post-modify the Noun with Adjective Clause:Here should be  a word or group of words which will work like an ADJECTIVE Clause. Generally, adjective clause follows this structure: Noun + Relative Pronoun (that, what, where, which, who, how, why, whom, etc) + extension.It means adjective clause appears immediately following the Noun or just after the Noun which will be modified.

⇒Example:  There is hardly any educational institution _______.

➺ Ans (probable):  where the local children can get admitted to continue their education.

➠Explanation: Look at the above answer. The answer is a Adjective Clause as it is appeared just after the noun (institution). And it has started with a relative pronoun Where.

Read the following text and use modifiers as directed in the blank spaces.

1.I experienced a very interesting incident (a) ————– (post modify the verb) on my way to Dinajpur. My friend Tamalika, (b) —————(post modify noun with an appositive) was driving. A crow was crossing the road but suddenly in the middle of the road it stopped and remained standing. In a minute Tamalika had to change her course but she didn’t have (c) ————- (pre-modify) time and apace to do that. Tamalika tried to turn in the left when the cow too walked (d) ———–(Post-modify the verb) back a few steps. To save (e) ————-(use a demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) cow Tamalika had to move in the right. She lost her control and bumped the car with a (f) ———-(use a noun adjective  to pre modify the noun) tree. (g) ————–(use a participle to pre modify the verb) Tamalika  was shocked but she was (h) —————— (use an intensifier to pre modify the adjective) happy (i) ————– (use an infinitive to post modify the verb). She patted the (j) ——— (pre-modify the noun) cow and burst into laughter.

2. My elder sister is (a) ———- (pre-modify the adjective with an intensifier) affectionate to me. She is a very (b) ————– (pre-modify the noun) lady. She advised me (c) ———–(post modify the verb with infinitive) my knowledge and advised and skill. She tells me to go to college (d) ————-(post-modify the verb). She advise me (e) ———– (pre-modify the noun0 path. She also advise me (f)————–(post-modify the verb with an infinitive phrase) with other fellow students. She is really a (g) ———-(pre-modify the noun) woman. She teaches me how (h) ————-(post-modify the verb with an infinitive ) between right and wrong. She advised me to be a (i) ————(pre-modify the noun) human being. (j) ———– (pre-modify with a present participle phrase) I want to become a trustworthy ————— (pre-modify with a present participle). I want to become a trustworthy man.

3.Arsenic is a (a) ————-(pre-modify the noun) substance. It is (b) —————– (use an intensifier to pre-modify the adjective) dangerous for human health. (c)———— (use a demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) substance is found in the water of the tube well. There are (d) ——- (pre-modify the noun) villages in our country. Most of our (e) ———– (use a noun adjective to pre-modify the noun) people drink tube well water. At present, they are passing their days (f) ———–(use a participle phrase to post modify the verb). (g) ———-(use personal phrase to pre-modify the verb) found in North Bengal. We should take a serious measures (i) ————– (use an infinitive phrase to post-modify the verb) which produce contaminated water. Government is trying to identify the tube wells (j) —————-(use a participle phrase to post-modify the verb) red.

Sheet: 2

1.Rabindranath Tagore was a (a) ——- (pre-modify the noun) poet of Bengali literature. He was born in a (b) —– (Pre-modify the noun) family at Jarasako, Kolkata. He went to school (c) ——- (post modify the verb) He wrote his (d) —— (pre-modify the noun) verse at the age of eight. At the age of seventeen, he went to London (e) —- (Post modify the adjective with an infinitive) school there. He was put up in a lodging house under the care of a (f) —— (Pre modify the adjective with an infinitive) coach, Mr. Scott. He was lucky (g) —- ((Post modify the adjective with an infinitive) an English family of Mr. Scott. He also visited the House of Parliament (h) —– (Post modify the verb with an infinitive) Gladstone and john Bright’s debates on Irish rule. He wrote letters to Kolkata (i) —– (Post modify the verb with a present participle) English society. At this, his family thought that they might lose their son (j) —— (Post modify the verb). So, he was called back to Kolkata.

2.It was a hot (a) ——- (use a noun adjective to pre-modify the noun) day. A (b) ——- (pre- modify the noun) crow flew all over the fields looking for water . For a long time, She could not find any water .She felt (c) ——- (use an intensifier to pre- modify the adjective) weak, almost giving up hope. Suddenly, she saw a water jug below her. She flew (d) ——- (post- modify the verb) to see if there was any water inside. Yes, she could see some water inside the jug. The crow tried (e) —— (use an infinitive phrase to post- modify the verb). Sadly, she found that the neck of the jug was too narrow. Then she tried to push the jug down for the water to flow out. But she found (f) ——- (use a demonstrative to pre-modify the noun) jug too hcavy. The crow thought (g) ——- (use a phrase to post- modify the verb) What to do. (h) ——(use a participle to pre-modify the verb), she saw some pebbles nearby. She (i) ——- (pre-modify the verb) had a good idea. She started picking up the pebbles one by one, dropping each into the jug. As more and more pebbles filled the jug. The water level kept rising. Soon it was high (j) ——- (post-modify the adjective) for the crow to drink. The crow quenched its thirst and flew away.

3.Water is a (a)———– (pre modify the noun) substance. It has no colour of (b)——– (possessive to pre-modify) own. The (c)———– (determiner to pre- modify the noun) name of water is life. By drinking water we can quench (d)——— (Possessive to pre modify the noun) thirst. Thus we can survive on earth. But (e)——– (pre modify the noun) water is like killing. By drinking contaminated water, we suffer from diseases like diarrhea, typhoid etc. We, may (f) ———— (pre modify the noun) face (g) ———–(pre modify the noun) death by drinking such type of water. We are responsible for (h)——— (noun adjective to pre modify the noun) pollution. Waste materials from mills and factories are thrown here and there. Farmers use fertilizer and insecticides in their land. During the rainy season, they are mixed with ponds and rivers. Besides, latrines (i)——— (participle to pre modify the noun) on ponds and rivers cause water pollution. (j)———– (pre modify the noun) awareness should be raised to stop water pollution.

 

4.Most of the people in (a) ——- (use possessive to per-modify the noun) country do not know the importance of English. In fact, it is an (b) ——- (use an adjective to per-modify the noun) language and we are living in a (c) ——- (per-modify the noun) village. So, if you know English (d) ——- (post modify the verb with an adverb), you can communicate with (e) ——- (use artical to per-modify the noun phrase) rest of the world. It is surely an important element of your (f) ——- (use a ounn adjective to per-modify the noun) skill. Without the knowledge of English with proper understanding. You cannot complete (g) ——- (use possessive to per-modify the noun) higher studies because most of the books are written in English in the process of higher education. Poor knowledge of English will also hamper your (h) ——- (use a noun-adjective) development. In short, if you do not have a good command of English, you will suffer (i) ——- (post-modify the verb with prepositional phrase/Adverbial) of your life. So, don’t waste your time and try to learn English (j) ——- (post-modify the verb with an adverb) from today.